BEREA -- It's been so long since the Browns' offense scored a touchdown that guard Eric Steinbach was stunned to learn Jerome Harrison's sizzling, 72-yard scoring blast at Buffalo on Nov. 17 on "Monday Night Football" was the most recent time.

"Ummm, I didn't even know that," Steinbach said. "I remember the play. I didn't realize that was the last one. That's probably the last positive long run we've had in a while. It'll be good to get things rolling this year. I have full confidence in the offense and the coaches to run the ball and throw the ball effectively."

Touchdowns were almost as hard to come by for the Browns last season as victories were for the winless Lions, who visit the Stadium on Saturday night in the second preseason game. The Browns went the final six outings of last season without a TD and picked up where they left off last year by getting shut out, 17-0, by Green Bay last week.

"I didn't read any of your guys' papers, but I'm sure it said seven games with no touchdowns, right?" said center Hank Fraley. "We've just got to out and execute. We moved the ball, especially with the first team. We moved it down the field and had a hiccup there and of course I get the hold on the field goal, so that erased three points. And then the two-minute, we had another one there in the red zone. You take that out, it's 10-14 going into the half, and you're like, 'All right, it's a decent preseason.' But there definitely [are] things we have to work on, and that's what we're out here doing."

Brady Quinn admitted that getting the ball in the end zone was the biggest thing the Browns worked on all week. You name it, they went over it a thousand times: red zone, goal-line, no-huddle, long passes, short ones, bursts up the middle, trick plays, unlikely receivers -- anything to get the darn thing in.

"How important [is it to score a TD this week)?" Quinn said. "It's important every game. But it's obviously vital to us as this point."

Browns vs. Lions

Kickoff: 7:30 p.m., Cleveland Browns Stadium.

TV/radio: WKYC Ch. 3; WMMS FM/100.7.

2009 preseason records: Browns 0-1, Lions 1-0.

2008 records: Browns 4-12, Lions 0-16.

What to watch: Quarterback Derek Anderson might get the start because Brady Quinn did so last week. The starting QBs will play most of the first half. If there's a two-minute drill at the end of the half, Anderson will get it because Quinn got it in Green Bay. . . . The Browns gave up 230 yards rushing and a 4.9-yard average last week. They most likely will be without former Lion Shaun Rogers for the second week with an undisclosed injury. . . . Aside from Josh Cribbs' end-around, the Browns only averaged 2.1 yards per rush. Cribbs played well at receiver last week and must keep it up to win the No. 2 job. . . . Alex Hall probably will start at outside linebacker in part because of injuries. The Browns still are auditioning defensive backs for the nickelback role. . . . Lions coach Jim Schwartz named No. 1 overall draft pick Matthew Stafford the starting quarterback for tonight's game. Former Browns receiver Dennis Northcutt also is starting. . . . The Lions rushed for 191 yards in a win over Atlanta last week.

That being said, the current unit doesn't deserve all the heat for last year's woes. After all, Quinn only started one of those TD-less games (with a broken finger), Derek Anderson started one (and suffered a season-ending knee injury), Ken Dorsey started four, and Bruce Gradkowski started one.

"We don't think about it," said Quinn. "It's a new year. Last year is last year. And we're just working on things with this offense, getting better with this group and this team."

Coach Eric Mangini, who has yet to name a starting quarterback for the game, stressed that crossing the plane is just one of his many objectives.

"I always feel urgency to get in the end zone and keep them out of the end zone," he said. "We want to do both. I'd like to see big returns, and them not have big returns. I also want to see good football. That's what I'm looking for, good football and being able to eliminate mistakes. If there's a mistake, it's done at full go. If you're wrong, be wrong and fast. The urgency for me is to improve."

But does this offense have what it takes? Among the concerns heading into the game are:

No clear-cut starting quarterback.

No clear-cut No. 2 receiver.

No clear-cut starting center.

A No. 1 receiver coming off a drop-filled season.

A starting running back who will turn 30 next week.

A first-time offensive coordinator.

"I'm confident in our players' abilities and our coaches' abilities," said Quinn. "So there's no doubt in my mind we're going to be good. We're going to do the things that play to our strengths, and we're going to continue to get better and better."

Of course, the whole offense would operate more efficiently if the Browns could establish the power running game the new regime will emphasize. Against Green Bay, no running back had a run longer than 5 yards except for Josh Cribbs on the 29-yard end-around, and Jamal Lewis averaged 2.4 yards on his seven attempts. Currently, Jerome Harrison is working through an undisclosed injury, and rookie James Davis still is learning. Harrison carried three times for four yards (1.3-yard average) and Davis two times for 5 yards (2.5-yard average). "We want to get it all going, really," said Mangini. "Improve in that area, protection, route running and that's what this time is for, to really cover things in practice and then, also, see the different things that we see in the preseason games. If you can run the ball effectively, it helps a lot of other areas. It helps play action a bunch and pushes another player down the box to stop the run, which opens up some things on the perimeter. You want to be able to do that effectively."

In addition to finding the end zone, Mangini is hoping to see something he didn't last week in Green Bay: smart, good football.

"It's a broad range of things," he said. "It really is, because I want to see improvement on the sideline. I want to see improvement in terms of getting information to players at halftime. I want to see improvements on box mechanics, coaches up in the box. I want to see improvement in all the different areas offensively. It's the operation. It's really the whole operation. How do we work, and where do we need to work more efficiently? For me, it's a big-picture perspective."

Mary Kay Cabot will join Tony Grossi and Terry Pluto to preview the pro football season at a luncheon Sept. 9 at 11:30 at The Plain Dealer. For more information or to register, go to www.plaindealer.com/lunch or call 216-999-4231.

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